NEWSLETTER
In response to a comment regarding the Cubs having an impending positional logjam due to all their prospects, Buster Olney recently made the following remark.
@RandyLerman @Cubs No, they won't. Somebody will be dealt for pitching.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) August 11, 2014
Why?
Granted, 140 characters is not conducive to subtle and nuanced discourse, and Buster Olney is often very subtle and nuanced. I suspect, given the space, he’d have some “It would make sense…” or “They are likely to…” or “It is a good possibility that…” type of phrases embedded in his comment. With that caveat aside, I still would disagree with the idea that the Cubs need to trade or should trade one or more of their best prospects for pitching.
Another plan would be to try to sign the best pitchers they can this winter (remember, there are no guarantees in free agency), combine those new arms with the armada of mid and back of the rotation candidates already on the 40 man roster or lurking in the high minors, and see what happens. If they need more pitching (and they will, because everyone does), then there is another great crop of starters likely to hit free agency in 2015.
That plan seems perfectly viable, and doesn’t involve trading anyone. Naturally if the right deal comes along the Cubs should pounce on it, but I don’t think they need it to come along. Trading someone is certainly an option, a potentially good option, but I don’t see it as the best or the only option.
Nor will they have a positional log jam. If everyone succeeds in the majors (and odds are good they won’t), then move Bryant to the outfield, slot Russell at third, leave the rest alone, and call it a day. Logjam cleared.
On the other hand, this thinking could mean we’re in for a fun winter that includes all kinds of random trade rumors from every corner of baseball including the Cubs. After all, nearly every team in baseball could use a young, slugging infielder, and if the perception is out there that the Cubs have no choice but to deal one or more of theirs, then our offseason will be spent at the corner of Rampant Rumor and Baseless Speculation.
That could be almost as much fun as Spring Training next February. Almost.
Scores From Yesterday
Iowa – Even without a single homer, the Cubs pulled off the 3-0 win.
Tennessee – The Smokies had the day off.
Daytona – Daytona was postponed by rain.
Kane County – Kane County had the day off.
Boise Hawks – Boise blew this one open in the middle innings as they won 11-6.
Arizona – The Cubs jumped to an early lead that just kept growing in this 8-1 win.
Performances of Note
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